HELDERBERG – A second fatal shooting in Lwandle within 24 hours has heightened concerns over suspected taxi-related violence in the area, with police investigating two separate murder cases after two men were killed.

According to Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg, the latest shooting occurred on Saturday morning (4 July).

“The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Saturday morning, at 06:20, on the corner of Michael and Onverwacht roads in Lwandle, where a 44-year-old man was fatally wounded, are under investigation,” Twigg said.

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Suspects at large

Police were called to the scene, but the victim had already been transported to a medical facility, Twigg said. “Upon arrival on the scene the victim was transported to a medical facility for treatment, where he was declared deceased.”

Twigg added that the motive for the attack is believed to be taxi related. At this stage, it is not known how many suspects are involved in the latest incident and no arrests have been made.

The incident follows another fatal shooting in Onverwacht Road around 20:00 on Friday evening (3 July).

“Upon arrival on the scene they [officers] found an adult man, who sustained fatal gunshot wounds to his body, and another man who was wounded.”

According to Twigg, one of the victims was declared dead at the scene by medical personnel, while the injured man was taken to a medical facility for treatment.

“The suspects fled the scene in two Toyota Quantum minibus taxis that was parked outside a car wash. One minibus taxi was later recovered in Strand.”

He said the motive for Friday night’s attack forms part of the police investigation. Lwandle police are investigating both Friday’s cases of murder and attempted murder, as well as Saturday’s murder case.

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Ongoing violence

This weekend’s shootings follow four more suspected taxi industry-related incidents in the Helderberg on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 June, and another incident in Khayelitsha on 30 June.

Provincial police confirmed these incidents left one man dead and at least six others wounded, with the fatal shooting occurring on Tuesday evening in Walter Sisulu Road, Khayelitsha.

The violence also included a shooting in Strand involving two security guards in a minibus taxi, a separate taxi attack near a Firgrove service station, and shooting at a taxi rank in Khayelitsha’s Mandela Park on Monday.

In all cases, suspects fled the scene and no arrests had been made at the time of reporting.

Benedicta van Minnen, a member of the Provincial Parliament and the DA’s provincial spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety, condemned the attacks, calling on police to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible.

She further urged all role-players to collaborate in making the Western Cape’s transport system safe and free from violence.

Police have appealed to anyone with information about the fatal shootings to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application.